First Fest, Best Fest: Capturing Gov Ball 2025
Hozier closing out Gov Ball 2025.
I’ve never photographed a music festival before—Governors Ball 2025 was my initiation. Thrown headfirst into a weekend of chaos, color, and cardio, I came out with sore feet, a full heart, and about a 3000 photos I’ll never forget. Gov Ball 2025 was 3 days of sun, rain, sweat, delays, surprises, and some of the most dynamic live sets I’ve seen to date. Headliners included Tyler the Creator, Olivia Rodrigo, and Hozier—though only one of the 3 allowed photography (shoutout Hozier for being a real one). Despite the restrictions, the weekend was packed with standout performances, moments of pure chaos, and a ton of musical discovery!
Outside the music, the festival was a full sensory overload. The trees were covered in bright pink faux fur. Oversized art installations popped up in every direction. One of the best decisions I made all weekend was grabbing multiple batches of empanadas from a vendor near the press lounge—those saved me. Pair that with the outstanding ice-cold strawberry basil lemonade I gulped down on several occasions, and I swear I saw the light for a second. Before going into detail about each artist I caught, I have to shout out the PR team at Grandstand HQ—above and beyond doesn’t even cut it. Every interaction felt like they actually cared, and for a first-timer like me, that meant everything!!
Lady Liberty
Day 1 — Sunshine and Strong Starts
Friday kicked off with blue skies, smooth logistics, and a stacked lineup. I bounced between stages, mainly the main and Kiehl's stage.
Dogpark—Only caught the tail end, but they sounded tight. Good energy, strong vocals. One to keep an eye on for sure.
Jean Dawson—The definition of raw creativity. His genre-mashing style and visual flair made the whole set feel like a fever dream.
Mannequin Pussy—Loud, fast, and fearless! I’m glad I finally caught them live. Their set had this beautiful sense of chaos that made you want to scream along even if you didn’t know the words.
Mk.gee—Laid-back, vibey, and totally locked in. His sound was super atmospheric but still punchy. I’ve been told my friends many times that I would dig his music, and they were right.
Role Model—Big fan energy. People were screaming every lyric, and then Conan Gray walked out during “Sally” and kissed Tucker on stage. You could feel the crowd explode. The TikToks and reels exploded shortly after.
Stolen Gin—Groovy and fun. Jackson (the lead singer) and I went to college together, so seeing him up there, crushing it, was honestly surreal!
BigXthaPlug—Gritty and commanding. Not the type of music I usually listen to, but he knows how to work a crowd, and his beats hit hard in a live setting.
Benson Boone—Wild performer. He did flips on stage like it was no big deal. He’s only 23 but has the charisma of someone who's been doing this forever. The Freddie Mercury comparisons don’t feel too far off.
The Beaches—Canadian rock QUEENS. They’re funny, stylish, and absolutely shredded live. Also just incredibly sweet people!
The Backseat Lovers—Beautiful, emotional set. They know how to build a moment. Every song felt like a wave forming and crashing in the best way.
Tyla—Afrobeat, pop, and R&B all rolled into one electric set. One of the most captivating performers of the day!
Tyler, the Creator—Closed out Friday night with a chaotic, cinematic, and completely magnetic performance. From his sharp visuals to his razor-tight delivery, every moment felt intentional. Funny, weird, emotional, and totally unforgettable!!
Day 2 — Delays, Chaos & Redemption
Now onto Day 2. Saturday tested everyone’s patience, that’s for sure. Due to incoming storms, doors were delayed until 4:30 PM. Olivia Rodrigo fans had been camped out all morning, only to get hit with that news 10 minutes before the gates were supposed to open. One of my friends sent me a picture of the line that legit stretched onto a highway. I was told Saturday was the only truly sold-out day of the weekend, and it showed. Understandably, artists got cut, set times got squeezed, and tension was high. But once we got in, the energy picked up again and the artists who did perform made the most of it!!
Marina—Theatrical and powerful. I wasn’t familiar, but I left a fan. She gave us pop with a side of performance art, which was really captivating to watch.
Wallows—Just when you thought things were drying up…a leftover monsoon dumped water mid-set. It turned into a magical, drenched, dance-in-the-rain kind of moment. I didn’t want to have a photograph-and-ruin-my-camera-in-the-rain kind of moment, so I ran and sought shelter. But the band definitely knew how to make the most of it. My second favorite performance all weekend.
Conan Gray—More big fan energy! Loud and proud, from 6 to 60 years old. Polished, heartfelt, and fun. His visuals were pastel pop perfection, and the crowd was completely locked in.
Olivia Rodrigo—My favorite performance all weekend, closing out Saturday night! Though limited press were allowed to shoot, her all-female band, flawless transitions, and crowd connection made it unforgettable. Her set had the perfect balance of angst, glitter, and “scream your heart out” emotion. Plus, massive beach balls for the finale. I only got hit in the head twice!! I
Day 3 — Full Steam Ahead
Sunday was redemption day. No delays, no cancellations, just a smooth flow of back-to-back greatness. The crowd felt a little looser, almost like we’d all been through it and earned the finale.
Clairo—Soothing, dreamy, and effortlessly cool. Rain started up again mid-set, but honestly, it just made the whole set feel more like a dream.
Glass Animals—Beginning to end, a full body experience. Dave Bayley was like a human firecracker—sprinting, jumping, and never missing a beat. Wow!!!
The Japanese House—Melancholy but warm, like the perfect indie daydream. Great sound design and vocals that just hit. Visuals were a highlight as well.
Joey Valence & Brae—These two are the real deal. High energy, throwback Beastie Boys vibes, and super fun to shoot. My new favorites!
Mt. Joy—Chill, soulful rock. The kind of band you want to crack a beer to and sway with your friends. If I weren’t working, I would have totally participated.
RAYE—A massive discovery for me. Her vocals were unreal, and her live presence was commanding! Dynamic, and her backup band was such a treat. I’m mad at myself for not knowing her before.
Royel Otis—Aussie rock duo with that easygoing surf-rock spirit. Infectious and super fun live.
Amaarae—Didn’t know what to expect, but she’s got star power! Confident, colorful, and vocally tight—would love to see her again on a bigger stage.
Hozier—Well we made it, and boy was it a bittersweet finale. Spiritual. Hozier commanded the stage like a prophet. It was clear he and the band weren’t feeling 100% (he even mentioned it), but Hozier would never let the fans down. His voice somehow sounded even better live, and the entire set felt like being part of something sacred. Part of his performance was going out to a secondary “B” stage within the crowd. That resonated with fans, leaving them with a more intimate performance.
Gov Ball 2025 gave me everything for my first time covering a festival—killer music, surprise moments, dreamy sights, unpredictable weather, and some of the best vibes I’ve ever been a part of. I walked 50,000 steps over the weekend and somehow still didn’t want it to end. Beyond the music and madness, I met a whole crew of amazing people (writers and photographers alike) who made the experience even more special. We traded stories, snacks, sunscreen, and tips, and now I’ve got a new community I can’t wait to see again next year.
Let’s run it back in 2026!
Photo by Taylor Regulski for Governors Ball
